The World Bank is expected to release more than TZS 5 billion to support the early implementation of a climate resilience project aimed at helping local government authorities address the effects of climate change.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure at the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Engineer Rogatus Matavila, thanked the World Bank for its financial and technical support in addressing climate change challenges affecting communities in Tanzania.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam over the weekend while opening a meeting of the National Steering Committee overseeing the implementation of the Sustainable Climate and Environment (SCALE) Project, Eng Matavila said the meeting marked an important step toward the project’s implementation.
He said the session allowed members to review reports from 65 local government authorities that will participate in the project.
The reports will be submitted to the World Bank to facilitate the release of the funds for the initial phase of implementation.
The SCALE project is expected to reach more than 6.6 million people over a five-year period from 2025 to 2030. It will be implemented in 65 councils, including 54 in mainland Tanzania and 11 in Zanzibar.
Representatives from the World Bank commended the Government of the Tanzania for the progress made in preparing and implementing the project aimed at strengthening climate resilience at the local government level.
Speaking during the meeting, World Bank representative and project adviser Dr Lucy Ssendi said the project had made notable progress within a short time since its start.
She noted that although some challenges emerged late last year, the government had taken steps to strengthen implementation and keep the project on track.
Dr Ssendi also thanked the government and its institutions for continuing with preparations and coordination even before receiving the funds, describing it as a sign of commitment to the project.
The project’s National Coordinator, Ms Hawa Mwechanga, said the SCALE initiative is expected to cost more than $110 million.
She said about 90 percent of the funds will be directed to local government authorities to support climate resilience activities at community level, while the remaining 10 percent will remain with the central government to support coordination and supervision of the project.
